BMW Plans to Turn CarPlay Into Subscription-Based Service Next Year

BMW plans to offer CarPlay as a subscription-based service beginning next year, rather than charge a one-time fee, reports The Verge.

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The automaker will charge $80 per year for access to CarPlay starting next year, with no fee during the first year of ownership of a new BMW, according to Don Smith, technology product manager for BMW North America.

BMW currently charges a $300 upgrade fee to drivers who want CarPlay, available in its 2017 model year and newer vehicles.

Smith believes switching to a subscription-based pricing system will provide BMW owners with more flexibility. "This allows the customer to switch devices," he said, while mentioning Android as a specific example.

BMW doesn't currently support Android Auto, although Smith said Google Assistant is coming to new BMW models later in 2018.

Smith also argued that the annual fee could actually work out to be cheaper for somebody with an average length lease, as the total cost after four years after the free first year of access would be $240, cheaper than the one-time $300 charge.

Of course, those who don't trade in their BMW once every four years can expect the CarPlay subscription fees to add up significantly over the long term. All the while, many other automakers now offer CarPlay as a standard feature.

BMW may ultimately decide against this idea if it receives enough negative feedback from customers, but we'll have to wait and see.

Guess I won't be looking at a BMW when I shop for a new car next year ...

I won't pay for a CarPlay subscription same way as I don't pay for a Satellite radio subscription. While I don't need Satellite Radio, I don't care if it is offered as subscription or not ... however, CarPlay is something I *want* but I am not willing to pay monthly for it - so as long a there are other options, I will choose those.

Not sure if they is also true for BMW, but I think it is a joke that with many car manufactures you can get CarPlay only if you also take the Navigation System ... For me, AppleMaps works great, so I won't need the Navigation System and don't want to pay extra for that either.

As an owner of a 2017 Mazda that has been (mostly) patiently waiting on Mazda to finally get their back bumpers in gear with AirPlay, I do hope that BMW's plan is not an oncoming trend in the industry and that Mazda isn't looking into doing this as well.

I also wonder if this is for new cars only, or if somehow magically they are going to update existing cars with this.

The stupidest idea ever !! Not even Apple is charging us for updates !!! Is absurd !! I don’t understand why the car companies don’t understand that they need to offer the best on service when you are behind the wheel.

What a stupid idea. We got a Ford Flex in March of 2016 (I had to upgrade the bus with a new USB controller, but that wasn't hard) and a Mercedes GLS-450 in Nov 2016 - many cars were eliminated due to a lack of CarPlay. I did test drive the slightly smaller BMW SUV. It was a nice enough car, but didn't compare to the GLS. (And the salesman drove like an idiot before I got to drive.)

If it was a subscription CarPlay though, it would have been enough to say "Sorry, BMW."

Edit:
Not to mention their math is wrong: Pay $300 once. Or, "Over the course of a 3 or 4 year lease, it would still work out to less money than the option is now." Let's see:

How incredibly greedy can these 'old' car manufacturers get? That's repulsive.
CarPlay is standard on Audi from 2016. Heck, it's even standard on the new Ford Fiesta's and only £100 on a Fiat 500.
Apple MUST put a stop to this. BMW really do not seem committed to CarPlay. The MINI hasn't even got it as an option until the new facelift one in March. A friend of mine is a sale exec at BMW and he always looks blank when I ask him about CarPlay.
A real shame as for me, it would be a must have if I was to buy a car - electric of course

On the other hand, my car has it. The lease included the $300 (minus residual). If 1st year had been free, I would not renew for 2nd year. The BMW interface is superior to the Apple CarPlay and I don’t use the CarPlay at all

This is great. I always do 3 year leases on my BMW's, I just paid $300 up front for carplay on my wife's X3.... under this new method I will only pay $160 for 2 years if you include the first year free. Alot fairer for leasers.... Buyers might get screwed over though.

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